Growth
The future of audiology is in hearing loss prevention. At Central Michigan University, the Grinn Hearing Lab is committed to the development of a model that accurately predicts individual susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, in order to better identify and protect high-risk populations.
The Grinn Hearing Lab collaborates with the CMU Hearing Conservation Program and the CMU College of Music to prevent occupational and recreational hearing loss on campus and in the community. Audiologists are equally qualified to attenuate sound as they are to amplify it; we promote and provide early identification of NIHL through advanced auditory assessment and educational training.
Dr. Grinn conducts parallel research in human models at Central Michigan University and in animal models at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Grinn also collaborates with Boystown National Research Hospital on a project related to OTC hearing aid safety and performance. From basic science to clinical translation, the goal is to systematically test the auditory system for individual vulnerability and incorporate these variables into an improved, damage-risk criteria for noise injury.
Research Support
2024 –2029 NIH NIDCD R01 (PI: Grinn). “Improving Automated Hearing Aid Safety and Audibility Using Proxy Metrics of Amplification”.
2020 - 2025 NIH NIDCD LRP Award (PI: Grinn). “Effects of External-Ear Amplification on Temporary Threshold Shift following Music Exposure”.
2021 NIH NIDCD LRP Award (PI: Grinn). “Effects of External-Ear Amplification on Temporary Threshold Shift following Music Exposure”.
2021 Support from NIH NICDC R01DC014088 (PI: Lobarinas). “Noise-induced Hearing Loss Susceptibility Correlated with External-Ear Amplification in Chinchilla”.
2019 Faculty Research and Creative Endeavors Grant. “Effects of External-Ear Amplification on Temporary Hearing Sensitivity Shift following Virtual-Reality Music Concert”.
2018 American Academy of Audiology New Investigator Grant. “Effects of Firearm Noise Exposure on Cochlear Nerve Response”.
2018 Texas Speech-Language Hearing Foundation Research Grant. “Individual Noise-dose Modeled with Open Ear Transfer Function in Children”.
2017 National Hearing Conservation Association Research Grant. “Effects of Firearm Noise Exposure on Cochlear Nerve Response Amplitude”.
2017 Susan and Jim Jerger Research in Audiology Fellowship. “Individual Noise-dose Modeled with Open Ear Transfer Function in Adults”.
Recent Publications
Grinn, S., Notaro, D., Shokar, J., Cheng, C. (2024). Changes in Auditory Performance Following a Virtual-Reality Music Concert. (Under revision; Ear and Hearing).
Grinn, S., Trevino, M., & Lobarinas, E. (2023). Noise-Induced Hearing Threshold Shift Correlated with Body Weight and External-Ear Amplification in Chinchilla: a Preliminary Analysis. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 24(6), 563-574.
Grinn, S. & Le Prell, C.G. (2022). Evaluation of Hidden Hearing Loss in Normal-Hearing Firearm Users. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.1005148
Grinn, S. & Le Prell, C.G. (2021). Modeling Individual Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Risk with Proxy Measurements of External-Ear Amplification. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 149(6), 3975-3987. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0005061
Grinn, S. & Le Prell, C.G. (2019). Noise-dose estimated with and without Pre-cochlear Amplification. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 146(5), 3967-3977. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5132546
Grinn, S., Wiseman, K. B., Baker, J. A., & Le Prell, C. G. (2017). Hidden hearing loss? No effect of common recreational noise exposure on cochlear nerve response amplitude in humans. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, 465. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2017.00465